The new BMW M8 GTE will be in action in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in 2018. In the hands of BMW Team RLL and team principal Bobby Rahal (USA), the new car will make its race debut on the final weekend in January, at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Americans Connor De Phillippi and John Edwards will contest the entire season at the wheel of the two cars. De Phillippi is a newcomer to the BMW Motorsport family.

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – Aug. 27, 2017…  BMW Team RLL’s fourth and ninth place finishes in today’s  IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Michelin GT Challenge at VIR are far different than the first 85 laps of the 93 completed would have predicted. A left front tire puncture with eight laps remaining forced the No.

The two BMW Team RLL BMW M6 GTLM cars finished sixth and seventh of the GTLM class respectively. Alexander Sims (GBR) and Bill Auberlen (USA) started from third on the grid in the number 25 car. Sims quickly jumped into second and began hounding the leader. The Brit handed over to Auberlen on lap 25. The experienced BMW driver was forced to return to the pits with a suspension issue. The crew effected repairs to the damper, but the number car 25 lost two laps.

   John Edwards (USA) and Martin Tomczyk (GER) raced the number 24 BMW M6 GTLM to a third place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) race at Lime Rock Park (USA).

After reaching the top of the podium at Watkins Glen (USA) last Sunday, Bill Auberlen (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR) raced the number 25 BMW Team RLL BMW M6 GTLM to a second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) GTLM class victory this Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville (CAN).

The win was the 14th for the BMW Team RLL programme since 2009 and the first for the BMW M6 GTLM. The driver duo completed 186 laps of the classic Watkins Glen International circuit during the six-hour race, finishing 3.156 seconds ahead of the number 67 Ford GT. BMW Motorsport driver Sims celebrated his first sports car win in North America while Auberlen added another record to his illustrious career.

           Bill Auberlen, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM (P2): “It is a long time coming for this game and this car. We have to be very happy for that but the weird thing is that BMW Team RLL is so geared to win, that is the most important goal. When you get second you still want to be on top. However, we have to smile and hold our heads high. We covered two-thirds of the podium just not the top step this weekend.”